Filling yarn cutter mechanism



Nov. 26, 1968 R. J. BLACK 3,412,765

FILLING YARN CUTTER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 12, 1966 V 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wlq/ I m? ITTOP/VE K5 R. J. BLACK Nov. 26, 1968 FILLING YARN CUTTER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1966 United States Patent 3,412,765 FILLING YARN CUTTER MECHANISM Robert Joseph Black, Box 577, Clarkesville, Ga. 30523 Filed Dec. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 600,847 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-263) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed herein is directed to a filling yarn cutter mechanism for a replenishing loom having an oscillating lay beam. The cutter mechanism is operated independently of the replenishing mechanism of the loom by engagement directly with the lay beam as it oscillates rather than through a mechanical linkage with the replenishing mechanism.

Disclosure This invention relates generally to filling yarn cutter mechanisms for looms and is more particularly related to a filling yarn cutter mechanism for a replenishing loom which is operated directly by the lay beam of the loom.

Filling yarn cutter mechanisms for replenishing looms are well known in the art. The most commonly used cutter mechanism for replenishing looms consists of a pair of cutters which is extended into the shuttle box at the replenishing end of the lay beam to cut and hold the weft or filling yarn during the replenishing of a bobbin in the shuttle. These previous filling yarn cutter mechanisms are generally connected through a linkage mechanism with the transferor which moves the filled bobbins from the feed hopper into the shuttle during the replenishing operation.

One of the major problems encountered in the use of these prior art cutter mechanisms is in keeping the linkage mechanism connecting the cutter mechanism with the transferor in proper adjustment so that the filling yarn is cut and held by the cutter mechanism until a filled bobbin has been deposited in the shuttle and the filling yarns tied. Once adjustment was finally achieved in these prior art cutter mechanisms, this adjustment was quite easily lost due to parts of the linkage becoming worn. Therefore, it can be seen that almost constant attention must be given to the keeping of the cutter mechanism in adjustment so that the weft or filling yarn would be cut and held during the replenishing operation.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes these and other problems associated with prior art filling yarn cutter mechanisms by providing a cutter mechanism which is operated independently of the transferor so that once adjustment of the cutter mechanism is achieved, the cutter mechanism will remain in adjustment for long periods of time. The cutter mechanism of the invention is retracted into cutting and holding position by the lay beam of the loom rather than a linkage mechanism connecting the cutter mechanism with the transferor so that the adjustment of the cutter mechanism may be quickly and easily achieved and maintained.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a conventional pair of cutters which is urged into extended position by a spring and which is mounted on a slidable member selectively responsive to movement by the lay beam to be retracted into cutting position. The cutters are extended 3,412,765 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 by releasing the slidable member carrying the cutters so that the member is extended by the spring. The lay beam retracts the member to an intermediate holding position by contacting an extension on the slidable member as the beam moves forward and subsequently fully retracts the slidable member by contacting a cam extension which is moved into position to be contacted by the lay beam as the lay beam initially retracts the member carrying the cutters on the next forward movement of the lay beam.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention showing its location on a replenishing loom;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing the mechanism in retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 showing the cutter mechanism in extended position;

FIG. 4 is a crosssectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1 showing the cutter mechanism in inter-mediate retracted position; and

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose one specific embodiment of the invention, however, the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the invention is used with a replenishing loom having a lay beam 11 which is moved to an alternate position each time the shuttle 12 carried therein traverses the lay beam 11. The lay beam 11 has a shuttle box 14 at the replenishing end thereof into which the shuttle 12 is received during the replenishing operation.

The loom 10 further includes a bobbin hopper 15 and a replenishing mechanism 16 associated therewith which moves a filled bobbin (not shown) from the replenishing mechanism 15 into the shuttle 12 during the replenishing operation in conventional manner. The loom 10 also includes a transfer rod 18 which is rotated to start the transfer or replenishing operation in the loom.

The filling yarn cutter mechanism is carried on the conventional stub shaft 20 mounted on the loom 10 in conventional manner. The filling yarn cutter mechanism 19 includes a frame 21 provided with a channel 22 which carries a slidable member 24 therein. On the end of the slidable member 24 extending toward the lay beam 11, a conventional cutter assembly 25 is mounted and has an associated camming member 26 carried by the frame 21 to properly open and close the cutter assembly 25 as it is extended and retracted by the slidable member 24 to appropriately cut and hold the weft or filling yarn during the replenishing of a bobbin in the shuttle 21.

The frame 21 is located on the shaft 20 so that when the slidable member 24 is in its retracted position, the loom 10 operates in conventional manner and the lay beam 11 is oscillated as the shuttle moves back and forth thereacross without causing interferrence therewith by the cutter assembly 25. A spring 28 extends between the frame 21 and the slidable member 24 and is effective to constantly urge the slidable member 24 t0- ward its extended position wherein the cutter assembly will engage the filling yarn in the shuttle.

The rear portion of the slidable member 24 has provided therein a pair of notches 29 and which are selectively engaged by a catch 31 pivotably carried by the frame 21 so as to hold the slidable member 24 in its retracted position and in an intermediate retracted position, the notch 29 maintaining the slidable member 24 in intermediate retracted position and the notch 30 retaining the slidable member 24 in its most retracted position upon engagement of the catch 31 therein. The catch 31 is biased by spring 32 toward engagement with the notches 29 and 30 so that when the slidable member 24 is retracted by the lay beam, the catch 31 automatically engages one of the notches 29 and 30. A flexible cable release 34 is connected to the catch 31 and to the transfer rod 18 so that when the transfer rod 18 is rotated to start the transfer operation, the flexible cable 34 is moved to release the catch 31 and allow the slidable member 24 to be extended into position so that the cutter assembly 25 will engage the filling yarn carried by the shuttle 12.

The slidable member 24 is provided with an adjustable retracting extension 35 which, when the slidable member 24 is extended, will be engaged by the lay beam 11 as it moves forwardly and will be retracted to a position wherein the catch 31 engages the notch 2? to hold the slidable member 24 in intermediate retracted position. This is etfective to close the cutter assembly 25 to cut and hold the filling yarn in conventional manner and release the remaining portions of the yarn remaining on the bobbin (not shown) in the shuttle 12 for discharge therefrom as the new bobbin (not shown) is moved into position in the shuttle 12 by replenishing mechanism 16. The adjustment for proper retraction of the member 24 to intermediate position is easily effectuated by manipulating the screw threaded extension 35 to selectively vary the effective length thereof.

One end of a cammed extension 36 is pivotally connected to the slidable member 24 and the other end thereof is slidably received through a yoke 38. Therefore, it will be seen that the cammed extension 36 will be moved through the yoke 38 as the slidable member 24 is extended and retracted. A cam 32 is provided on the underside of the cammed extension 36 and is effective to raise the outer extending end of the extension 36 when the slidable member 24 is in intermediate retracted position.

The yoke 38 includes a transverse cam bar 37 and a pair of stops 37' against which the bar 37 is urged by springs S. This serves to permit the cammed extension 36 to be deflected downwardly as it is moved into position during contact between the lay beam 11 and the extension 35 and then urged upwardly against the stops 37' as soon as the lay beam 11 retracts to position the extension 36 for final retraction of the slidable member 24 upon the next forward movement of the beam 11.

The lay beam 11 will not engage the outer extending end of the extension 36 as it is moved forwardly if the slidable member 24 is in its extended position, but will engage the outer extending end of the member 36 when the movable member 24 is in intermediate position and the cam 39 has raised the end of the member 36. It will thus be seen that as the lay beam 11 moves forwardly a second time after engaging the extension 35, it will engage the outer extending end of the cammed extension 36 and retract the slidable member 24 to its retracted position. At this position, it will be seen that the cam 39 lowers the outer extending end of the cammed extension 36 to displace the end of the member 36 downwardly so as to prevent it from contacting the lay beam 11 on its next forward movement.

Operation In the operation of the invention, it will be seen that when the transfer rod 18 is rotated by a conventional internal mechanism within the loom 10 to start the replenishing operation, the rod 18 causes the catch 31 to be raised by the flexible cable 34 and allows the slidable member 24 to be extended to position the cutter assembly 25 to engage the filling yarn carried by the bobbin 12. As the lay beam 11 moves forwardly carrying the shuttle and bobbin therewith, the filling yarn is engaged by the cutter assembly 25 and the member 24 is then retracted by the lay beam 11 so that the cutter assembly 25 cuts and holds the filling yarn. A new bobbin is then fed into the shuttle 12 by the replenishing mechanism 16 and the lay beam 11 starts to return in its rearwardly directed motion.

The cammed extension 36 has not been raised so that when the lay beam 11 moves forwardly again, it will engage the extension 36 and cause the slidable member 24 to be retracted out of engagement with the operation of the lay beam 11 until the next transfer operation is started by rotating the transfer rod 18.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications may be made in the embodiment herein described without departing from the inventive concept as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as invention is:

1. A device for cutting and holding filling yarn for use with a replenishing loom having a transfer mechanism for transferring filled bobbins into a shuttle carried by a lay beam while positioned in a shuttle replenishing box, comprising:

(a) a support;

(b) guide means carried by said support;

(c) slide means slidably carried by said guide means for movement therein;

(d) cutting and holding means associated with said slide means and extending therefrom toward said lay beam;

(e) resilient means yieldably urging said slide means in extending position toward said lay beam to engage said filling yarn in said shuttle;

(f) first stop means for retaining said slide means in an intermediate position from said extending position;

(g) second stop means for retaining said slide means in a further retracted position; and,

(h) release means for releasing said first and second stop means whereby said resilient means is effective to move said slide means toward said lay beam to engage said filling yarn with said cutting and holding means, said release means being operative in response to a signal from said transfer mechanism whereby movement of said slide means toward said extended position is initiated.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first stop means comprises:

a first stop notch defined in said slide means engageable by said release means for retaining said slide means in an intermediate position effective to retain and cut the filling yarn engaged by said cutting and holding means in said extended position; and,

said second stop means comprises:

a second stop notch defined in said slide means engageable by said release means for retaining said slide means in a further retracted position.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising adjustable extension means operably connected to said slide means and engageable by said lay beam as said lay beam moves forwardly, said lay beam being effective through said extension means to retract said slide means to said intermediate position for said release means to engage said first stop notch and selectively retain said slide means in said intermediate position.

4. The device of claim 3 further including cam extension means operably connected to said slide means and effective to be engaged by said lay beam when said slide means is in said intermediate position, said lay beam being eiTective through said cam extension to retract said slide means until said release means engages said second stop notch for selectively retaining said slide means.

5. The device of ,claim 4 wherein said eam extension means is positioned out of engagement with said lay beam when said slide means is in both extended and retracted position, and is positioned for engagement with said lay beam when said slide means is in intermediate position.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cam extension means includes a member pivotally connected to said slide means and a cam carried on said member, said cam extension means being effective to raise one end of said member into position for engagement with said lay beam only when said slide means is in intermediate retracted position.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising cam support means carried by said support and effective to resiliently force said cam so as to position said member in position for engagement with said lay beam when said slide means is in intermediate position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,552,388 9/1925 Stafford 139-263 X 2,220,665 11/1940 Schwabe 139-263 2,565,405 8/1951 Stanley 139267 FOREIGN PATENTS 475,063 10/ 1952 Italy. 902,685 8/ 1962 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

